ADHD and notetaking (calls and IC minutes)

Guys,

Just want to know if anyone here with ADHD can share you how you cope with the notetaking nature of the job. While I have worked for quite a long time, I have always struggled with taking notes.

My team expects me to send out notes asap after calls / discussions.
My notes are usually extremely messy (cannot organize my thoughts when someone is speaking) and I have to spend loads of time post-call to rearrange my stuff to different sections (profitability, sales, risk, etc.).

I also find that most of the conversations in the call are "known knowledge" or just BS fillers and I get off the hook easily once they start talking something that is not very valuable.

Usually I am able to give someone a quick download in 2-3 minutes verbally after 1 hour discussion but I feel that I just cannot give them a verbatim script/note post-call...

Can someone here share your experiences?

tl;dr: I am quite lame and just want to hear any tips/advice from you guys...

 

I feel the same way most of the time. I think it’s just hard to take good organized notes during long, meandering meetings and everybody spends a ton of time cleaning up afterward. A couple things that help though are using consistent shorthand and, weirdly, slowing down to listen a bit more intently. I often find when I’m scrambling to keep up, my notes are less coherent and I end up writing a lot of irrelevant nonsense while if I focus on listening first and only writing down the important stuff I get a better / more useful output. Caveat is you could have a hardo principal or MD who equates quantity with quality and your notes could be too succinct.

 
Most Helpful

Note-taking is difficult for everyone. Especially when there is lots of jumping around, off-topic, and vague insistence on "squaring the circle" and other bs.

Someone on my team invented this:

  1. Instead of bringing a notebook to meetings, bring a blank template divided into topics: Industry, Management, Financials, Debt, etc etc

Then write your notes as you go directly into those sections. Talk about debt? Notes go into debt. Industry? Notes go into industry.

If you find it tricky to switch, try this:

  1. Get a small notepad. Write 2 -3 paragraphs on each page. One sided. After the meeting, rip the pages out and label them by category (Industry, Management, Financials, Debt). If your notes represent 2 categories, tear or cut the page. Order the pages and type up the notes.

When you email your notes, keep your email structured. Create a template that you use and reuse all the time.

 

my buddy knows her and she is singlehandedly the best employee in the gruop. People say she works too hard tbh, probably heard this yourself, TAMARA.

Also, my wifi connection to this website sucks. MIght accelerate my leaving this website for good.

Will update my computer soon and leave Incognito so I will disappear forever. How did I achieve Neanderthal by trolling? Some people are after me so need to close account for safety.
 

I always write super minimal vague notes. Just key points and whatever the deliverables were. Also only notes for when the client speaks - not our side.

There's always some hardo on the deal team anyways that recorded court room reporter type notes anyways if someone complains enough (most people dont even read notes to be honest).

 

couple ideas 1) Sh*tty Notes - always SCAN immediately after, add to deal folder (or if your co-worker gives you Notes) - like if its 1-2 pages - quickly scan - and that way u never lose it. 2) Microsoft Word - Navigation Pane / or "live" Table of Contents - r u familiar, and know how to do that -easy to do quickly with CTRL-SHIFT-C + CTRL-SHIFT-V (paste fomats for those that dont know) Navigation pane is great - b/c u can just "click" right to that diff section

Word-->Navigation Pane below

Word-->Live Table of Contents - probably not neccessary here but check it out

Career Advancement Opportunities

March 2024 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.5%
  • Warburg Pincus 99.0%
  • Blackstone Group 98.4%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 97.9%
  • Bain Capital 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

March 2024 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.5%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.4%
  • Ardian 97.9%
  • Bain Capital 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

March 2024 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.5%
  • Bain Capital 99.0%
  • Blackstone Group 98.4%
  • Warburg Pincus 97.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

March 2024 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (21) $586
  • Vice President (92) $362
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (89) $280
  • 2nd Year Associate (204) $268
  • 1st Year Associate (386) $229
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (28) $157
  • 2nd Year Analyst (83) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (246) $122
  • Intern/Summer Associate (32) $82
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (313) $59
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”